Blazing Saddles Classic
With half a million bucks up for grabs in the Blazing Saddles Classic, a strong field will be assembled at the gates, trying to do their stables proud with one of the most prestigious titles on offer. We have several 3yo up and comers, a legend of the turf, a mare and a couple few ever reliable gallopers in their prime. Fine weather will greet the field and the spectators for what should be a fantastic event. Here is my preview of the runners contesting this week in Arizona.
PP 1 18/1 UNBRIDLED DISASTER SAARLAND x UNBRIDLED x SMARTEN ID#102299
The Stylez Syndicate sends out the only mare in the field, a lightly raced improver, who stepped up to this distance two starts back and blitzed a field of 7 by 5 1/2 lengths. She tried to repeat the dose last time out over the same conditions, but didn’t have enough zip to go with them in the stretch, finishing a game 4th. Will need to improve on her career best SP of 96 against this field to be taking home a share of the prize here. Should settle handy to the speed and be in a position to challenge if she can top her career best from the inside gate.
PP 2 15/1 SOVEREIGN SILVER(KY) SILVER TRAIN x DONERAILE COURT x SOVEREIGN DANCER ID#77694
The Pilgrim stables has prepared this 3yo colt who has hit the board at his last 5 starts, notching 3 wins in that time. This will be his first time tested against the older horses, but should feel right at home running over the 10f journey, having run at this distance his last 4. Was outgunned by a very classy runner last time out when beaten by more than 10 lengths. Before that, he was the one doing the outgunning, racing away for a comfortable victory, by 2 1/2 lengths, in a career best SP of 97. Will need to take a step up from that to be in the finish here, but is an improving type who would not surprise if he was take home a check from this.
PP 3 7/2 EL MAZE(ENG) RED RANSOM x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE) x RAISE A NATIVE ID# 152593
This 4yo from the Boble stables has relished the switch back to dirt at his last 5 starts, collecting 2 allowance wins, followed by 2 stakes places and a last start 4th, when may have just found the 13f journey beyond him. Back to the 10f here should be right up his alley, having topped SPs of 104 and 103 at his most recent 2 tries over this trip. Has talented jockey, N Gardner (20%) on board, and will head up forward and be the most likely leader through the first part of the race. Has been falling just short in similar company the last few, but should give a good show again and give them something to chase down.
PP 4 6/1 LEGENDARY STUD(KY) AFLEET ALEX x MONTJEU (IRE) x MISWAKI ID#1090
From the Shamrock stables comes this up and coming 3yo from three time stakes winning he-mare, POWDERSNOW(IRE). Just like his mum (aka dad), he shows a distinct likeness for the dirt tracks, having most recently blown away a 7 horse allowance field by over 3 lengths. Before that, he was given one last chance on turf, but struggled home, beaten the best part of 20 lengths. Was a respectable 7th place in a field of 18 in the Grade I Fallen Heroes eclipse race over this journey 3 starts back. He collected a placing in the GR Simsters Kentucky Derby earlier this year, and seems to have taken the next step. Loves this distance and looks a real threat here.
PP 5 9/5 DRAGNIPUR SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x NEVER SAY DIE ID#79198
Turf legend making the change up to dirt this week and will open as the morning line favourite, but has a big question mark over his ability to handle the surface. His creditials look outstanding for this, coming here fresh from 4 stakes wins from his last 5 starts. Most recently he took out The I Stay Forever Memorial over 10.5f on an off-track, running an SP of 109. He found the Grade I class a bit tough before that, fighting away but never challenging with an 8th place finish. 3 stakes wins before that, topped with an SP 111 in the Well Doc Bonanza helped lift his earnings to over $680k. If he can bring his turf form to the dirt here, he looks the one to beat, but his only try on this surface was his worst result (a 9th place) as a 2yo.
PP 6 3/1 NO WALKING AT DAWN(IRE) FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) x GREY DAWN II x CHIEF’S CROWN ID#144387
One of only 2 runners coming through the Skunk’s Blazing Saddles Classic Prep Stakes, he found them a little slick in the final stages, finishing in 4th place, but a repeat of his SP 108 would most likely be good enough to see him home in the real deal here. Finished 6th in the Grade II Bluegrass Cup Classic 2 starts ago, with a career best SP of 109. Was midfield in the Grade I Travellers stakes prior to that, finding it a bit tougher than his previous run in Dubai, where he took home the Rainy Night in Texas Handicap over the 10f journey. Has had the ideal preparation and has the runs on the board over this distance and surface. Light grey 3yo running for the Meguire stables looks the one to beat.
PP 7 6/1 BLACK SKUNK ROLFE(WV) BLACK TIE AFFAIR(IRE) x TOM ROLFE x SIR GAYLORD ID#154812
Another coming through the Classic Prep Stakes in readiness for this, Skunkbarn sends this 3yo homebred out in hope of a rebound after his shocker last time. Backing up from a hat trick of allowance wins, the latter of which was a dominant 5 length victory with an SP of 107, the Black Skunk threw in a bounce effort last month, finishing 11th of 13 and never figuring in the calculations. His form before that would put him right in the mix here, with his best victory over this distance. His previous racing patterns suggest he could drop out to the back of the field and try and swamp them in the stretch, and with a fair bit of speed expected early, it could be set up for this guy to rattle home late and steal the prize.
PP 8 16/1 AWESOME LUCK(KY) AWESOME AGAIN x PULPIT x BUCKLAND’S HALO ID#165895
Lightly raced, with only 5 starts under his belt, Otistaylor has been saving this guy for his late 3yo season, and now is his time to do some damage. Yet to miss the board in every start, he comes here in a big class rise, but looks like the wild card of the field. Last start he toyed with his rivals in a polished display, racing away in the stretch for an easy win over 11f, and an SP of 100. Yet to be really tested so far, so a bit of an unknown quantity as to how he will measure up against a pretty classy field. Distance will be no problem, well bred, and in possession of a seriously awesome finishing burst, he will be sure to make his presence felt in the final furlong.
My selections –
1st 6
2nd 4
3rd 7